Bronwen and Frans Stiene, founders of the International House of Reiki, were continually coming across hints that suggested there was more to the system of Reiki than meets the eye. Historical discrepancies, symbol variations and changed attunements suggested that the system had become somewhat like a game of Chinese whispers. The inability to verify much of the ‘new’ historical material was also causing disillusionment amongst many practitioners. On travelling to Japan they realised that traditional Japanese Reiki communities with ancient practitioners were slowly opening their doors to Westerners and many of Reiki’s unknown secrets were gradually being divulged.
This journey stimulated Bronwen and Frans to write a book tracing the history of the system through to the modern day. To help clear confusion in the Reiki world this book also includes lists of branches, schools and organizations throughout the world. There is a comprehensive lineage chart, timeline, extensive glossary and general information for novices and practitioners of all levels. This book is due out in December 2003 and is called The Reiki Sourcebook.
Reiki’s treasure is its ability to re-fuel you with your own life giving energy. It is generally accepted that this speeds up physical and emotional healing, gives clarity and added perception, brings about spiritual fulfilment and will return you to your true path in life.
To learn the system of Reiki is simple and yet today the processes vary considerably from school to school. Mikao Usui created the teachings in the early 1900s and they came to the West via Hawaii in the1940s. Here it seems the system was quietly altered to adapt to the turbulent times of World War II. The consequences are that for the last 60 years Western Reiki students have been unaware that there was a more traditional and spiritual side to Reiki. After the death of the Western Reiki Master Hawayo Takata in 1980, the system took on many new faces and there are likely to be over 1000 different branches of teachings available today.
Some of these new branches have channelled information, others claim to have ‘the only true teachings’. All in all there have been innumerable inconsistencies in the stories that Reiki Masters have told their students. Some believe the system of Reiki is Egyptian, Tibetan, or even linked to Shambhala. Questions have arisen such as; was Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki, a doctor or not? Did he charge $10, 000 dollars to become a Reiki Master? Did he use manuals to teach? Was he a Christian?
The intent of The Reiki Sourcebook is to look closely at all these questions and to link together information that has been spread far and wide by time and circumstances. By capturing the results of this systematic global research, it aims to share the information and to promote and stimulate discussion in the global Reiki community. It is not entirely about ‘new’ information but the bringing together of histories and anecdotes to create a cohesive understanding of what has happened to and been said about the teachings during the past 100 years.
It is believed that this will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of Mikao Usui, his teachings, Reiki and related practices. It is also for beginners or those who feel lost and confused by the myriad of choices that are presented to them as Reiki in today’s society.
This is an attempt to create unity rather than dissension. Until now no book has tackled these questions from such a practical and analytical standpoint. If we can see where we came from – we can see clearer where we are heading.
The system of Reiki is decidedly Japanese though there is sure to be a similarity between all healing techniques throughout the ages. The 4 traditional symbols were introduced in the later stages to Mikao Usui’s teachings and were for those who had difficulty connecting to the energy. They originate from the Japanese culture. In the West the symbols have often been mystified giving them the ‘power’ rather than seeing them as training wheels. Mantras and meditations on the other hand were taught in Mikao Usui’s teachings from as early as 1915.
The West did not ‘discover’ Mikao Usui’s memorial stone until the mid-1990s. Mikao Usui’s students erected it in temple grounds in 1927, one year after his death. Overlooked by the West for 60 years, this was truly a Reiki treasure. On translation this memorial stone answers many of the questions that have arisen in the Western Reiki community. Mikao Usui was not a doctor or physician – instead he had worked as a businessman, was an administrator and security guard to the Major of Tokyo as well as being a lay monk.
Bronwen and Frans met Hyakuten Inamoto, monk and Reiki Master in Kyoto. He introduced them to his teacher, the 85-year-old, Chiyoko Yamaguchi who had been taught by Chujiro Hayashi, a student of Mikao Usui. In Tokyo they met with two Reiki Masters, one who was a member of the ‘secret’ Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai. Here they found out that this society uses two manuals. One includes original statements from Mikao Usui. Today this manual is printed in modern Japanese and includes beautiful Japanese poetry to stimulate the mind as well as a healing guide for beginning practitioners. The Gakkai uses techniques to stimulate the meridians helping practitioners to sense the energy. Once they have accomplished a set of exercises they then move on to the next level. Receiving that level does not mean that you have completed it but that you have only just begun…
Yes, Mikao Usui’s teachings have many treasures – some well known and others just now returning to the light. Suzuki san, a 108-year-old nun and student of Mikao Usui, is surely one of these great treasures. Frans also flew to Florence, Italy to study with her Western student. There he learnt that there are said to be 12 students of Mikao Usui still alive aged between 98 and 112.
This system is about to change. It will not become more complex or difficult or contain more jargon as has happened in the past. It will simply return to its simplest, highest form and its practitioners, as individuals, will blossom taking their communities with them.
Reiki Master/Teachers Frans and Bronwen Stiene are authors of The Reiki Sourcebook and founders of the International House of Reiki and the podcast The Reiki Show.
Understanding chakras when practicing Reiki therapy in this free alternative medicine therapy video clip. Expert: Eileen Dey Contact: www.reikitrainingprogram.com Bio: Eileen Dey, MA is the founder/director of the only vocational school of Reiki that is licensed by the state of WA. Filmmaker: Daron Stetner
How Reiki is connected to Ki, Chi, and Prana in this free alternative medicine therapy video clip. Expert: Eileen Dey Contact: www.reikitrainingprogram.com Bio: Eileen Dey, MA is the founder/director of the only vocational school of Reiki that is licensed by the state of WA. Filmmaker: Daron Stetner
Reiki which is pronounced as Ray Key is a holistic healing system that uses universal energy to heal an individual. In order for this to work, you have to be trained by a Reiki master. Since its rediscovery in the early 1900’s, various forms have evolved and some of them use Reiki music.
Reiki music is used to create calm and peaceful atmosphere in order for the healing to take place. This is available for download while some retailers sell these in CD online. One example of this is Shamballa that is often used by seasoned spiritual travelers.
For those who have never done a Reiki session with music before, it is recommended to use one with gentle tunes first before trying out something more diverse. If the site you are visiting allows you to hear a sound clip, try it out so you have an idea where the music can take you.
Do you really need to use Reiki music during a healing session? The answer is no because meditation music or any other kind may also work as long as it is designed for relaxation purposes.
As much as possible, the recording should last for about 60 to 75 minutes which is the average time it takes to feel energized after a session.
Just like a regular session without music, you can tell if it is working when you feel different sensations throughout your body. An individual who feels down will afterwards experience an emotional release or relief.
Once you have found the right Reiki music, you can put it on and then simply sit or lie down in a comfortable position. You then place your hands over your face with the palms over the eyes, touch the tongue to the roof of the mouth with the tip of your tongue just behind the teeth. Remember to inhale and let the energy flow into your body and then let it go out along your arms and out through your face.
The same slow movement should be done with the other parts of the body so you wake up feeling refreshed and recharged.
Reiki wouldn’t be around for more than a hundred years if it is not able to help those recover from emotional disturbances and addictions
In fact, various studies have been conducted and results have shown that patients are able to recover faster after surgery. This is the reason that there are more hospitals and clinics that have started to practice Reiki even before an operation to help them relax.
Those who worship Christianity have also embraced Reiki because its methods help them express compassion towards others and bring them closer to God. This is because Jesus healed with his hands and so is the hand healing technique used in Reiki that has made this very appealing.
Anyone can practice Reiki and you can do this with or without Reiki music because the tune that you hear only helps you relax when the most important thing to learn is the proper hand technique. This can only be taught by a master Reiki and when this is passed on to you, this can also be shared with others.
You just need to keep an open mind and have faith so you may also experience the positive energy that is needed to heal whatever part of the body, mind or soul that requires healing.
This is a freely distributed chakra meditation and Reiki Attunement from EnergyFundamentals.org. Positive feed back and ratings is always appreciated. Enjoy!
“Healing without energy depletion.” That is how Reiki was described in 1922 by its originator, a man named Mikao Usui. It combines the practice of palm healing with other methods to move energy throughout the body to restore a person’s health. While there is scant documentation which supports its effectiveness, the methodology has attracted a large following in the West. Today, tens of thousands of people extol the health benefits of receiving treatment.
In this article, we’ll briefly explore the practice’s history. We’ll also explain the ways in which Reiki is used to heal various disorders and the structure under which the methodology is taught to students. Lastly, we’ll discuss its movement throughout the West and the factors which influence it.
Origin Of The Teachings
The origins of Reiki began in 1922 on Mount Kurama near the city of Kyoto. Mikao Usui embarked on a 21-day retreat to the mountain in order to meditate, fast, and pray. When he had completed his retreat, he described having a revelation that opened his eyes to the spiritual practice. He claimed to have discovered the secret behind harnessing a spiritual energy and using it to heal others. That same year, Usui relocated to Tokyo to build a university that would be focused entirely on teaching the principles of this new practice.
Usui died four years later, but during that time, he had taught his methodology to over 2,000 students. One of those students was named Chujiro Hayashi who emphasized a simpler approach. Hayashi became a teacher and was instrumental in training Hawayo Takata who in turn, spread the practice throughout the U.S.
Different Paths Of Treatment
The underpinnings of Reiki maintain that there is an unlimited store of healing energy within the universe. This energy can be harnessed by a Master to cure all types of conditions, from physical to spiritual. There are two main paths of treatment: whole-body and localized.
When performing whole-body treatment, the practitioner either places his or her hands on the patient’s body or an inch above it. Each position is held for several minutes and an entire session will normally include up to 20 positions. When performing localized treatment, the practitioner will focus on one or more specific areas. This might be performed to heal a physical injury, skin condition, or sporadic pain.
Degrees Of Expertise
There is a structured approach taken when teaching the methodology to new practitioners. Students achieve three “degrees” of learning. The first level focuses on body positions that are considered favorable when performing whole-body treatment. The second level teaches students to use three symbols in harnessing and directing the spiritual energy over greater distances. The third level teaches the student to use a symbol known as Dai Ko Myo. At the end of earning the third degree, the student becomes a Master.
Movement In The West
As noted, Hawayo Takata spread the Reiki methodology throughout the United States decades ago. He was the person who first popularized starting a business which offered Reiki treatment. Since then, the spiritual practice has expanded to include elements of the New Age movement. It is not uncommon to see practitioners integrating the use of Chakras, crystals, and even communicating with spirit guides.
While the use of these New Age techniques is not bad, they do tend to obfuscate the elegant simplicity of Reiki. For purists, it’s worth remembering that the foundation of Reiki is based on accessing a universal spiritual energy that can be used to heal all forms of ailments. To that end, it can be a potent strategy for developing a well-balanced, healthy life.
One of the most helpful uses of Reiki would be in cases of pregnancy and infertility. Couples who have trouble bearing children would turn to all ways possible just to find a solution to their problem.
Reiki can be used for infertility problems, no doubt about that. In one instance, it had helped a Reiki student who is undergoing infertility treatments that fails to help her at all. But with the energy powers of Reiki, the imbalances in her pelvic and reproductive area were solved. The Reiki student who nearly gave up on having children felt something in her abdomen during one of her Reiki training sessions. In six weeks, she became pregnant and had successfully delivered a health baby as scheduled.
Reiki can help not only the infertile but pregnant mothers as well. Reiki students or receivers who are several months pregnant would feel the energy flowing through their belly, affecting the baby positively. This means that pregnant women attending Reiki classes or undergoing Reiki therapies are not only helping themselves but the baby inside them as well. Reiki sessions could make your baby feel relaxed, contented, kind, and happy even. And as the baby grows up, he or she will be more responsive to Reiki treatment sessions, giving parents peace of mind despite childhood falls and illnesses.
Reiki can greatly help pregnant mothers when nursing and taking care of their growing babies. Reiki workshops and healing sessions would make their baby very easy to attend to because they are less fussy and don’t cry so much, especially at night. And if the mother know how to practice Reiki, she can use it to help calm down her baby whenever he is edgy or is not feeling well.
However, there are beliefs that Reiki shouldn’t be practiced on women who are in their late pregnancy stages. While it is said that Reiki can cause premature labor to the expecting mother, the art doesn’t really cause harm to anybody at all. Mothers may choose to stop Reiki treatments during the last trimester of pregnancy. But even so, they don’t have to do that because Reiki has proven to be beneficial to both the baby and the mother at any point.
When it comes to the attunement process of a pregnant mother, some masters believe that the procedure is extended towards the baby, meaning he becomes a legitimate Reiki practitioner as well. However, there are also a good number of masters that say that the baby inside the womb is in no way part of the entire procedure. Whichever the case, one thing remains true – the baby is benefited in the whole exercise because he receives all the goodness that the attunement brings. And you can expect that these babies will be very different from the others who hadn’t experienced Reiki when they grow up.
Generally speaking, Reiki can positively affect the baby before, during, and even after pregnancy. Women who believe in the power of Reiki are advised to receive Reiki therapies in their pregnancy stages for their own benefit and for the good of the baby inside them.
Reiki Healing is a fascinating subject and with all the different Reiki styles and variations available one can get lost in the information available. This site is designed to present all the latest information about Reiki Healing, constantly updated and constantly fresh to give you the most current thoughts about Reiki Healing. Here you are welcome to ask questions and comment on other peoples questions and opinions in a friendly, information rich atmosphere to make sure you understand what you are getting into when you dive into this deep, yet wonderful study.
